quarta-feira, outubro 03, 2007

AdvertisementAdvertisementJUST over two months after he resigned as premier, Steve Bracks is embroiled in a political storm after landing a plum role with a major contractor to the Victorian Government — accountancy giant KPMG.

Mr Bracks started working for KPMG on Monday as a senior adviser and a member of the firm's advisory board.

While his pay is confidential, an industry source has estimated he could earn between $80,000 and $100,000 a year for being with KPMG one day a week — a far better daily rate than when he was premier.

KPMG national chairman Michael Andrew said Mr Bracks would provide invaluable advice. "Clients will benefit from his deep knowledge of how government works and from his insights into strategic issues facing governments," he said.

But opposition parties seized on the appointment, demanding guarantees that Mr Bracks would have no part in contracts involving the Government, and calling for a "cooling-off" period for ex-ministers taking up such roles.

The KPMG job is one of several that Mr Bracks has landed since he quit as premier in July, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Apart from his position advising East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, it has now emerged that Mr Bracks is joining the board of insurance company Jardine Lloyd Thompson, the advisory board of AIMS Financial Group, and becoming an honorary professorial fellow at Melbourne University.

But it is the KPMG role that is causing the stir. Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the Government had awarded KPMG more than 100 contracts and reviews, valued at more than $60 million, in seven years.

"It is quite extraordinary that Mr Bracks is now to be engaged by a private sector corporation under contract to the Victorian Government to provide advice on the very critical sectors of government," he said.

Greens MP Greg Barber said retiring ministers should have a minimum 12-month cooling-off period on their areas of responsibility, and a life ban on transactions they were involved in.

Mr Andrew denied that the appointment would give KPMG special access to Government secrets. "He is bound by cabinet in confidence, and we have also given an undertaking to the head of public service that Steve won't be walking the corridors of government for some time."

Mr Bracks was unavailable for comment last night. His office said his role was primarily to provide mentoring and leadership advice and "has nothing to do with lobbying".

Premier John Brumby would not answer questions, saying through a spokeswoman: "The former premier is entitled to pursue new opportunities after leaving public office."